Teen Girl Camping Trip 2011

The teen girl camping trip was a great success and an answer to prayer.  Twenty-six girls were able to go on the trip to Lake Michigan in Benzonia, MI.

Upon arrival at the camp grounds in Benzonia, MI, tents were quickly set up and the campsite was organized.  All the girls then gathered together under the pavilion to assemble note books. Each girl personalized and decorated their individual note books.  Every note book contained tabbed sections which would correspond with the sessions during the week.  The material in the note books consisted of Daily Bible Reading, Daily Devotions, Christian Womanhood, Prayer Journaling, Soul Winning and Truths that set us free.

The days were filled with many activities.  Each morning began with everyone gathering together around the camp fire as Pastor gave a devotional on the assigned memory verse for that day.   Every girl was to memorize and recite the verse before breakfast.  Each girl then went and found a quiet place to meet alone with the Lord for forty-five minutes to an hour.  This time proved at the end of the week to bring forth a new commitment in many of the girl’s lives to continue to set aside time each day to meet with the Lord.  After breakfast, a session was taught from either Bethany or Mrs. White.   After the morning sessions, the group was provided free time before the afternoon activities.  The afternoons were spent either shopping or going to the beach.  Upon returning, dinner was served, followed by the evening session.  Everyone would then hang out together late into the evening; much of the time was spent around the camp fire talking and laughing hysterically!   At 11:00 p: m: there was a mandatory quiet hour at the camp ground that forced everyone to settle down and head to their tents.

The teaching in every session was so good and applicable.  All of the girls agreed that in every lesson there was something they learned that they could utilize in their lives. In the very first session, Bethany taught on how to lead a soul to Christ!  All of the girls were given New Testaments to mark the verses that corresponded with the gospel. They then used the “Wordless Book”, a tool used to visualize and give the gospel through colors, to accompany the teaching.  The girls then had the opportunity every day to practice giving the gospel to each other.  This was one of the highlights of the trip. Not only was this fun, but they were learning something that was giving them a new boldness to share the gospel with others! The other sessions were just as enriching and beneficial.

The camping trip was a wonderful experience for all the girls.  There was a spirit of love and unity among everyone.  The trip was not only a spiritual learning experience but  there were also many fun memories that were made around the camp fire, at the beach, and even in the vans as we traveled.

The camping trip produced in many (if not in all of the girls) a desire for a consistent daily personal walk with the Lord.  Friendships were made and strengthened.

With this camping trip being a first, there were many questions on how things would turn out.  However, God in his faithfulness pulled everyone and everything together. His blessings were evident throughout the whole trip.  “Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory …”  Ephesians 3:20-21

By Stephanie Kronbach (staff writer)